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Higher education

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Original poster

Universities bribing dcs with free gifts - has anyone else's dc had this??!

185 replies

headfried · 06/04/2018 15:36

My ds got an unconditional offer from UEA but it was his least favourite; hasn't yet decided on his firm.

Had had various letters, calls etc from UEA - ds is predicted good grades so I can see why.

But today, ds got...a free pair of Apple headphones through the post from UEA! Grin

Real ones. Shock

And the best bit is...ds is now thinking of going there as a result.

Anyone else's dcs feeling the lurve? Grin

OP posts:
TheSecondOfHerName · 06/04/2018 21:00

It was Northampton who offered the laptop. I don't know what brand as he decided not to put them as his firm choice, and he threw away the leaflet. He kept the socks though. Grin

TheSecondOfHerName · 06/04/2018 21:02

Just asked him. He says it was an HP laptop.

KendalMintCakey · 06/04/2018 21:05

UEA is hardly Russell Group! Laughs at Boys3 and points!

InfiniteCurve · 06/04/2018 21:16

KendalMintCakey,Maybe UEA is not Russell Group but it's not lower ranked either.Laughing and pointing?Oh ha di ha and clever old you.
Perhaps in the midst of your amusement you could consider those of us whose lovely hard working DC aren't going to get 3As,but who do want to go on to uni,and may have to consider shock horror non Russell group.
The graduates of lesser unis can't all be unemployable,surely???

TheSecondOfHerName · 06/04/2018 21:26

What InfiniteCurve said.

DS1 got Bs at GCSE and is predicted Bs and Cs at A-level. He wants to study History. Russell group universities don't give out History offers to students of his calibre (and even if they did, the offer would be AAA or above, which is not possible for him to achieve). Does this mean that he shouldn't bother applying to university to study a subject he loves?

None of the five universities DS1 applied to are part of the Russell group. He knows and understands that the places he has applied to do not have the same reputation as the more oversubscribed universities. But they are realistic for him (he got five offers) and the courses appeal to his interests.

justaweeone · 06/04/2018 21:44

Agree re unconditional offers, can make them take their 'foot off the gas'so to speakHmm
Disagree re UEA though!

lljkk · 06/04/2018 22:27

"UEA is the modern day equivalent of the old polytechnics."

In that case, What are the former polytechnics the modern day equivalent of, Home-education by your Hippy Uncle Bob, maybe?

derekthe1adyhamster · 06/04/2018 23:11

I had an offer of 2 E's 26 years ago. Yes, I stopped working for A levels, and yes, I regret it.
Surely those unis offering unconditional places will still be offering courses through clearing?
DS has formed Exeter with an insurance of Bangor but worryingly, only 1 grade difference between the two.

whywhywhywhywhyyy · 06/04/2018 23:14

I got given a mug and it swayed me Grin To be fair they were probably going to be my first choice all along.

Landed · 06/04/2018 23:27

From what I see and hear, those offering unconditionals are actually encouraging youngsters to keep trying with their studies as they offer various levls of scholarships for achieving grades above their prospectus stated entry levels - win win.

AlpacaLypse · 06/04/2018 23:33

Plymouth sent a very small Easter Egg to go with their unconditional offer. DD2 thoroughly enjoyed the chocolate. And is sticking with her first choice (which isn't Plymouth) even though she's going to have to do some actual work to get the results required.

MrsFezziwig · 06/04/2018 23:33

I had two unconditional offers in 1972.
Unfortunately neither Apple nor their headphones existed at that time.

MrsFezziwig · 06/04/2018 23:37

Actually my offers were for Es - I’m presuming unconditional still means you actually have to pass the exams?

boys3 · 06/04/2018 23:42

UEA is hardly Russell Group! Laughs at Boys3 and points!

UEA puts a number of RGs to shame, although their (RG's) slick marketing can be mistaken for objective fact in some, less well informed, quarters.

Ranks 12th in the CUG, 62 places higher than...............ooh let me see..........oh yes........Hull

66 places higher in the Graun table 18th vs 82nd ; whilst back to a 62 place gap in the ST; UEA 13th in that one.

Bit of an inconvenient truth but hey ho

Eve · 06/04/2018 23:43

DS was last years intake - no gifts and no unconditional offers at a mix of Russell and non Russell group.

Eve · 06/04/2018 23:47

... and DS is at a top 10 uk rated uni ( on every score ) that is proudly non Russell group.

Woodenhillmum · 07/04/2018 08:01

I know of several unconditional offers for Birmingham ,that’s Russell group .Snobbery about universities is quite repellent .Go for the best course for you that fits your needs , obviously a pair of headphones are unlikely to seal the deal .

Fifthtimelucky · 07/04/2018 14:01

MrsFezziwig: no, these days 'unconditional' offers mean that you don't even have to get 2 Es, though there usually is a condition that you have to make the university your first choice.

I think the only truly unconditional offers are for those who have already taken their exams.

MaisyPops · 07/04/2018 14:09

The rise in unconditionals is a massive issue for 6th forms. Whereas you might have middling students who would work hard, now there's a lot of students who get an unconditional offer and then spend y13 coasting instead of working.

In my experience it is usually the newer universities who are dishing them out in a bid to get bums on seats.

I get students to think about it this way (even prior to the rise in unconditionals) they end up on a course where everyone got Cs and Ds at A Level. Is that course going to be as rigorous as a course where everyonre has As? The average for all courses has to be a 2:1. Well average performance for lower ability students isn't going to be the same as the average standard of A grade students.

For unconditionals, add in the fact that a bigger proportion of the cohort may well be people who are lazy and after an easy route to uni. Is that really the environment you want to be studying?

Make the right decision based on course and uni. Nothing else should come into it.

SluttyButty · 07/04/2018 14:32

Fifthtimelucky dd got an unconditional but she didn't have to make it her firm choice. She's put it down as her insurance (which I didn't entirely agree with but it's impossible talking to her at the moment) instead. She did sensibly put her first choice down as the uni she really wanted.

BubblesBuddy · 07/04/2018 14:52

Apple don’t make over ear headphones, only in ear ones which are under £10 on Amazon. So not a hugely amazing gift!

I think lower achieving students do need to consider what they will do after a History degree that they have accessed with BBB. They have to think of the future as well as the course. There are thousands of History grads who will be better qualified. The extension of universities to take all comers does not necessarily lead to grad employment. However, if all this is weighed up and the student is happy paying for the course should a good job be secured, then go for it. If no decent job is secured, then it’s a free course!

BennyTheBall · 07/04/2018 14:58

In the case of my friends daughter - accept unconditional offer from crappy university so coast through y13. Get poor grades - CDD. Go to uni, decide the course isn't for her and she wants to move. Find her crap grades are not a good prospect for any decent uni. So she's rather stuffed.

TheSecondOfHerName · 07/04/2018 15:00

DS1's firm choice is an aspirational offer from a mid-league university (not Russell group but next level down). He is planning to do as well as he can, in the hope that they'll accept him if he nearly makes the grades.

His insurance choice is an unconditional offer from a new university (former technical college). The course has a high level of contact time and student support. He spoke to them on the phone to check that the offer would remain unconditional even if he put it as the insurance.

Bombardier25966 · 07/04/2018 15:03

Apple don’t make over ear headphones, only in ear ones which are under £10 on Amazon. So not a hugely amazing gift!

Yup, they're not the most exciting of gifts, and bought in bulk will be less than £5, but it's a nice touch.

And UEA is a well respected uni. Don't let the naysayers put you off (especially when they haven't the first idea of what they're on about).

TheSecondOfHerName · 07/04/2018 16:06

I think lower achieving students do need to consider what they will do after a History degree that they have accessed with BBB.

This is a good question, and certainly something that students should consider before embarking on a three-year course.

If BBB is 'low achieving' then DS1 falls in this category (predicted BBC and wants to study History). He'd like to join the civil service or become a teacher.

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